EDS has announced its new, fully-managed enterprise mobility solution, EDS Extended Connected Office (ECO). Leveraging its agile infrastructure approach and experience managing 3.3 million desktops for global business, EDS ECO brings the same range of enterprise applications, high availability and security offered through a managed desktop environment to any mobile data device.
ECO connects mobile and remote workers seamlessly through the corporate firewall to access personal information management systems, corporate data, collaboration services and enterprise applications.
"ECO has created a true mobile extension of the enterprise that moves the managed environment from the desktop into the wireless world, but still maintains the consistency, stability and security of enterprise-wide systems," said Bill Crawford, Global Offering Executive, EDS Mobility Services.
"The benefits of managed mobility services provided by ECO can be measured in hard numbers with reduced cost of ownership and managed risk, as well as the soft benefits of improved productivity and increased collaboration enabled by linking remote and mobile workforces around the world."
ECO is the first managed service offering that is completely device-, technology- and service-agnostic, combining a full selection of hardware, middleware, security and software products from EDS`s industry relationships into a comprehensive service suite that leverages enterprises` existing IT infrastructure. Migrating to a fully managed mobility service model enables companies to eliminate capital expenditures and provides a predictable, utility-based cost for mobile workforce solutions that are supported against committed service level agreements.
"Our research shows that the enterprises are looking to the marketplace to not only identify mobility solutions but also to manage all aspects of negotiation, integration and operations," said Eric Goodness, principal analyst at Gartner Research. "For vendors to be successful in the mobility space, they must be able to frame pragmatic solutions according to the enterprises` unique requirements for cost containment, performance and flexibility."
Global carriers
EDS offers ECO as an extension to its existing customer contracts, or to new customers through channel partnerships established with mobile communications companies including Orange UK. By establishing master service agreements with mobile operators, EDS delivers global coverage and an integrated service delivery model with guaranteed, carrier-class quality of service.
Carriers benefit by incorporating a complete suite of managed data services that serve as an entry point into the lucrative market for enterprise mobile workforce solutions and provide a means to increase average revenue per user.
Pilot programs
EDS is currently in pilots to provide mobile access to intranets and enterprise supply chain applications for mobile communications company Orange UK and EDS`s European operations.
"Orange is committed to delivering innovative solutions and, together with EDS, we are continuing to help make our customers` mobile working environments simpler and easier to manage," says Richard Hanscott, vice-president, Orange Business Solutions. "The ECO solution reduces the risk associated with mobile solutions, by allowing companies to take advantage of a fully managed service. In addition, customers are able to plan and budget more accurately thanks to the fixed cost per user pricing. We have started to roll-out the pilot internally and with early adopter companies, and look forward to working together with EDS on delivering tangible business benefits for our customers."
On average, EDS pilot users have experienced a productivity gain of two hours per working day. Overall, ECO has delivered users the ability to more efficiently manage their workday and achieve time savings that ultimately deliver cost savings.
Furthermore, according to a recent study by industry consulting firm AT Kearney, having secure, around-the-clock access to this information can increase employee productivity by as much as 30% and provides an investment pay back of less than two years. Wirelessly-enabling core business processes and enterprise applications such as field force automation, sales force automation and supply chain automation boosts profitability through reduced cycle times, increased asset utilisation and increased service levels.
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EDS, the leading global services company, provides strategy, implementation, business transformation and operational solutions for clients managing the business and technology complexities of the digital economy. EDS brings together the world`s best technologies to address critical client business imperatives. It helps clients eliminate boundaries, collaborate in new ways, establish their customers` trust and continuously seek improvement. EDS, with its management-consulting subsidiary, AT Kearney, serves the world`s leading companies and governments in 60 countries. EDS reported revenues of $21.5 billion in 2002.
The company`s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EDS) and the London Stock Exchange. Learn more at www.eds.com.
Orange
At the end of December 2002, Orange UK had over 13.3 million active customers, more than any other UK network, making it the UK`s number one. The fifth annual JD Power and Associates UK Mobile Customer Satisfaction Study published in May 2002 showed that Orange ranks as the number one telephone service for customer satisfaction in the contract sector in the UK. In September 2002 Orange UK won the Mobile Choice consumer award for Best Network; Mobile Choice said "Orange received glowing accolades for every aspect of its service - coverage, reliability, customer service and tariffs". Orange UK provides high quality coverage to 99% of the UK population, and offers roaming to pay monthly customers on 286 networks in 126 countries and to pay as you go customers on 24 networks in 19 countries.
Information about Orange can be found on the Orange Web site at www.orange.co.uk and media information can be found at www.orange.com.
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